Adjustable barrel-cover



No. 627,3!7. Patnted June 20,1899;

M. m. BARRATT.

ADJUSTABLE BARREL COVER.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1898.)

[No Model.)

Witnesses.

Attorney w: Noam: PETERS co. PHOTO-LUNG" wuumcfon, n c.

MARTIN M. BARRATT, OF RI-IINELANDER, WISCONSIN,

ADJUSTABLE BARREL-COVER. no

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,317, dated June 20, 1899.

Application filed October 17 1898. Serial No. 693,703. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN M. BARRATT, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Rhinelander, in the county of Oneida and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Barrel-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable barrel-covers. It is a well-known fact that when provisions -such as meat, fish, pickles, &c.-are preserved in liquid of greater specific gravity such provisions are liable to float above the surface of the liquid and become tainted or spoiled by the action of the atmosphere.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable cover by which such provisions may be forced down and retained beneath the surface of the preserving liquid, and it pertains more especially to the cover-retaining mechanism which automatically engages against the interior wall of the barrel when released from the hand of the user, also to the device by which as the handle is grasped for the purpose of removing the cover such retaining mechanism will be automatically disengaged from the walls of the barrel as the same is being raised and removed.

The construction of my invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents aside View, part in section, of my cover-retaining mechanism shown engaging against the interior walls of the barrel. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one end of the cover-retaining mechanism. Fig. 3 is a top view of my device, part broken away, showing the interior.

Like parts are referred to by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A represents the adjustable cover.

B B are the cover-retaining spikes, the outer ends 0 of which are pointed, so as to penetrate and engage the inner walls of the barrel. The spikes Bare provided on their upper surfaces with corrugated bearing-surfaces D, in which the threads of the sleeves E engage. The sleeves E are held in place by and have supporting-bearings in the vertical walls F F of the bracket G.

The bracket G, together with the spikes B, are held in place within retaining-recesses H,

formed in the cross -piece I. The spikes B are adjusted so as to project a greater or less distance from the cover, according to the diameter of the barrel, by turning the sleeves E E. As said sleeves E are turned in one direction, said spikes are forced outward, and when turned in the opposite direction said spikes are drawn inward.

Thespikes having been adjusted for a barrel of a given diameter, they are actuated in one direction by the recoil of the spiral springs J, so that as the cover is forced down into the barrel the points 0 are engaged against the inner walls of the barrel and prevent the cover from being thrown upward by the buoyancy of its contents, while said spikes B are actuated in the opposite direction by drawing upward on the handle K. The handle K is actuated with the spike-retaining brackets G by wires or other flexible connections L. The wires L pass loosely through an opening beneath the base of the handle M, whereby as the operator lifts upwardly'on the handle K in the act of raising the cover the spikes B are drawn inward and out of contact with the walls of the barrel as said cover is raised.

When desirous to place the cover within the barrel, said spikes are drawn inward by drawing upward on the handle K, when by releasing said handle K when the cover is in place said spikes are forced outward, as stated, by the recoil of the springs H, thereby retaining the cover in the desired point of adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the cover A; coverretaining spikes l3 spike-actuating springs J, adapted by their recoil, to force said spikes outward and in contact with the walls of the retaining-receptacle; spike-actuating handle K; and flexible connections L communicating between said spikes and said actuatinghandle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a cover A; crosspiece I, provided with recesses H for the reception of the fastening mechanism; liftinghandle M secured to the upper surface of said cross-piece3 cover-retaining spikesB; spikeactuating springs J, adapted by their recoil, to force said spikes outward and in contact with the Walls bf the retaining-receptacle; ed to be adjusted relatively to their supportspike-actuating'handle K; flexible connec tions L communicating between said spikes and said actuating-handle; spike-supporting 5 brackets G; screw-threaded sleeves E respectivel y located between the vertical walls of said brackets G, the threads of said sleeves E being adapted to engage in corresponding threads provided therefor in the upper surl0 face of said spikes 'B, said spikes being adapting-brackets Outward or inward by turning said screw-threaded sleeve E,a1l substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature :5 in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN M. BARRATT.

Witnesses:

G. O. PINPRY, WM. HARDELL. 

